Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Onam celebrated with traditional gaiety

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: : After several days of non-stop shopping, `athappoo' contests and celebrations that preceded it, Thiruvonam passed off on a quiet note on Thursday. Most city residents preferred to celebrate Thiruvonam in a traditional manner at home and for many, the occasion was one for a family get-together and luncheon.

Streets remained deserted for most of the day, except in the morning when people flocked to temples to offer Onakkodi. The Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple at East Fort was one of the places where a large number of devotees congregated in the morning.

If many preferred to enjoy the traditional feast prepared at home, many hotels too were serving Onasadya for those who were unable to prepare it at home. In recent years, the traditional feast served in hotels have been drawing a larger crowd, with many senior citizen couples, bachelors, tourists and families turning up in large numbers to enjoy the traditional lunch, sans the hassle of preparing it.

Crowds also thronged the `payasa mela' organised by some hotels, where there was heavy demand for the varieties on offer.

By evening, large number of families could be seen strolling through the streets and most people headed for the Institution of Engineer's Hall and Observatory Hills, where the flower show and aquarium show are on. Although these have been organised on a low-key this year, people did not seem to mind.

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